Bernardo didn't quite believe the doorman Butch's words at first. It was one thing for Antonio and Vivienne to meet at the gate, but they actually met with Ramon’s children as well?

  Bernardo knew that Antonio and Vivienne’s ex-husband were old friends, and he also knew that Vivienne disliked Antonio.

  It was somewhat reasonable for the two to meet occasionally, but to say that Antonio met Ramon’s children at the gates of the military camp—that was not quite reasonable.

  Thinking of the fact that Dimitri had just died, and he himself was now the target of national condemnation, while Antonio’s prestige was beginning to rise, there was already a faint feeling that Antonio was slipping out of his control.

  During lunch today, he was actually thinking about pulling Antonio into his own camp. If he thought about it from a darker perspective, didn't that just prove how superb Antonio's trickery was?

  Fatal!

  Bernardo began to break out in a cold sweat.

  Bernardo was about to make a call, but the phone rang.

  It was the Minister of Defense.

  “Sir.” Bernardo’s attitude was humble.

  “Protesters have surrounded the Ministry of Defense for an entire day now. What is the situation on your end exactly? Has a response plan come out yet? If a new riot breaks out, things will be hard to handle.”

  Bernardo was about to make a call, but the phone rang.

  “Are you listening to me? Hello!”

  “Yes, I am. They have also blocked our main gates. I was thinking... if I appear now, I must apologize to the public. Not apologizing would only be adding fuel to the fire, and it would also damage your prestige. Could we do this: while I apologize, I push the blame onto the dead man? We say Dimitri acted on his own.”

  “...”

  “But, there is a difficulty. Nearly 100 officers participated in the meeting last night, and there are meeting minutes. So I am in a very difficult position and can only listen to your arrangements.”

  “Now we can only destroy those meeting minutes. Order the entire army that anyone is forbidden from accepting any media interviews. We’ll talk after things calm down. Whoever the hell talks out of turn, you deal with them.”

  The Minister of Defense’s words did not come as a surprise to Bernardo. They were on the same front; if one was damaged, the other could not survive alone.

  “By the way, isn't Ramon also locked up by you?”

  “Yes!” Bernardo answered truthfully. “His evidence of guilt is clear. He drew a gun and pointed it at me during the camp meeting. He had done this to me three times before in the war zone. He’s just a brute, a hothead. I only reported it to you once because his presence was beneficial to the war situation.”

  “Hmph, I knew it. He’s full of himself!”

  “I still don't know how to handle Ramon. I have two lines of thinking, but ultimately I will listen to you.”

  “Speak!” On the other end of the phone, the sound of the Minister of Defense flipping through a notebook and writing could be heard.

  He was taking notes?

  Bernardo paused for a moment, waiting for the other party’s hand to stop before continuing: ““The first line of thinking is to follow regulations and transfer him to the High Military Court Prosecutorate within 24 hours...”

  “The armistice agreement hasn't been signed yet; that regulation is void...” The Minister of Defense was a bit impatient.

  Great.

  Bernardo secretly clapped his hands in joy.

  “The second line of thinking is to frame him as Dimitri’s accomplice. However, that’s a bit aggressive. As long as he is still alive, we are always at risk of being bitten back by him.”

  “Don't let any more people die. If he dies, it’ll be hard to explain. Wait slowly for things to calm down, and I’ll find someone I trust to take his position. You apologize to the public as soon as possible this afternoon, understood?”

  “Yes!” Bernardo answered.

  After the Minister of Defense hung up the phone, a trace of evil appeared on Bernardo’s face.

  Ramon would be his plaything from now on.

  Bernardo did not hang up the phone, but continued to make a call:

  “Sebastian? You’re still in the country, right?”

  “Of course, still here. If you need help, I will do my best to serve. But the wave of protests seems a bit high.”

  Hearing Sebastian’s detached attitude, Bernardo got a bit angry.

  Where is the spirit for doing big things that was agreed upon at the start?

  I haven't even opened my mouth to beg you yet.

  “I just need you to cooperate with one small matter.” Bernardo said the words “small matter” very loudly.

  “Alright, since it’s a small matter, then say it. I will try my best to cooperate.”

  “Try your best?” Bernardo was enraged. “Do you think that if something happens to me, I won't drag you down with me?”

  “I... no, no, Commander, listen to my explanation...”

  Explain my ass. A mine owner, actually daring to play with high-ranking military officers just because he holds American citizenship? A murderous intent appeared on Bernardo’s face.

  “I’ll give you a chance to explain. Speak!”

  Sebastian clearly heard the coldness in the subtext and began to speak carefully: “Commander Bernardo, what I mean is... 90% of the newspapers in the country are protesting against you. I am naturally your right-hand man, but if you push me out forcefully, it’s fine if I die, but you will also lose a loyal friend.”

  “I haven't even made a demand yet, and you’re already scared?”

  The other end of the phone was silent for two seconds: “Yes, Commander, I was wrong... What you just mentioned is just a small matter. Of course I am willing to pour all my strength into helping you.”

  “Fine. Since your attitude is sincere, I’ll change it to an even smaller condition. Leak the matter of Antonio’s involvement in the mine shares. If it’s traced to you, just say you were coerced by Antonio.”

  “Understood. Has Antonio started to lose control?”

  “Not yet! Just a few signs. Better to strike early. Do this immediately. It must be on TV within half an hour, and it must be in the newspapers within an hour.”

  “By your command, Commander Bernardo!”

  The phone was hung up, but Bernardo had a bad feeling. He used “By your command”?

  Americans don't say “By your command” to military officers of weak countries! Especially since he is a somewhat famous mine owner.

  Wasn't this a sign of feigning compliance while acting in opposition?

  Bernardo looked up at the round clock hanging in the office. It was 3:25 PM.

  Keep a lethal card in reserve!

  Bernardo continued to dial: “Send people to lie in ambush around Sebastian’s house. Don’t let this man escape. If he dares to book a flight or go to the airport, kill him directly.”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  The other end only answered: “Yes.”

  Apologizing was fine, but he had to wait half an hour to see if Sebastian helped handle this matter.

  Bernardo decided to go see Ramon first. He had to personally assess whether he should let Ramon go or stomp this man to death.

  Bernardo also walked into the dark and damp basement.

  Ramon was still counting his fingers. He still only glanced at Bernardo and then continued to treat the newcomer as if he were transparent.

  Wants to die that much?

  Looking at the proud Ramon, Bernardo was secretly getting angry again.

  “Have you even forgotten the military salute?” He shouted very loudly, even the guards at the entrance of the cave heard it.

  One of the guards wanted to open the cave door to go in and check, but was pulled back by another.

  Ramon was even more confident now. Commander Ricardo was definitely going to save him. Antonio had been here just now, and now only three hours later, Bernardo had come as well. It showed that he had something on him that they absolutely had to get, something that could decisively affect their careers.

  What exactly was it?

  Ramon fell into thought.

  His indifferent gaze swept over Bernardo’s face—a face now twisted and distorted with rage from being denied respect. Then, Ramon silently shifted his eyes back to the ceiling, answering in a tone void of any emotion.

  “Commander Bernardo, I shouldn't have used a gun against you. I’m sorry! I am a prisoner now; I don't know what I can do to help you?”

  Is this an attitude of apology?

  In the past on the battlefield, Bernardo admired Ramon’s lack of fear of death and his backbone. Now that he was stuck in prison, what was there to be proud of?

  “Hmph!”

  “Hmm?” Ramon pretended not to know what the Commander was huffing about.

  Bernardo understood. No matter how much anger he displayed, in Ramon’s eyes, he was just a clown.

  This man had made up his mind to oppose him.

  He had originally thought that if Ramon could repent and come out to fight against Antonio, he was willing to give Ramon a chance.

  Even if he couldn't be restored to his original post, at least Ramon could see the light of day again.

  Now Bernardo regretted it. Ramon did not deserve pity, and Antonio had not yet clearly intended to be his opponent.

  When Bernardo was about to leave, Ramon also called out to him.

  “Wait!”

  “Hmm?”

  “You and Antonio both came once. What exactly is the purpose?”

  Antonio had been here?

  “What did he come to find you for?”

  “You don’t want to answer my question, so why should I answer yours?” Ramon finished speaking and continued counting his fingers.

  Walking far toward the cave entrance, only then did Bernardo turn back and shout: “I have plenty of ways to make you talk. You just wait.”

  Ramon was not afraid of Bernardo.

  According to army regulations, if a Division Commander like him got into trouble, the superior could not directly force a confession. The interrogation had to be intervened by an even higher-ranking official and the military court.

  Even if he was sentenced, he couldn't be left to Bernardo’s interference.

  Ramon estimated that his arrest warrant had probably not even been signed by the Army Commander Ricardo, and within 24 hours of being arrested, he had to be transferred to the High Military Court Prosecutorate.

  If he was transferred but there was no arrest warrant, wouldn't Bernardo be in violation of the rules?

  He sent Antonio today and then came himself; didn't he just want a way out?

  Ramon felt his only mistake was mistakenly treating the military district as a battlefield. In the past on the battlefield, he could treat the Commander like this, but not now!

  Didn't he just admit his mistake? What else did Bernardo want?

  In his heart, Ramon firmly believed that Bernardo wanted to send troops to suppress the protesting masses—this was the root of the whole thing.

  The responsibility of the army is to defend the country; it should not massacre the people!

  ...

  When Bernardo returned to the office, exactly thirty minutes had passed. The secretary said Sebastian had called just now and wanted him to pay attention to the news on Starry Sky TV in about half an hour.

  The 16-inch small color TV in the corner of the office had long been turned on and tuned to Starry Sky Guard by the secretary.

  Bernardo waited for less than ten minutes, and the news really came.

  “An insider has revealed that Division Commander Antonio owns a 10% stake in this mine. Through inquiries with the Bureau of Mines and the Economic Department, the reporter learned that the company that bid for the mine—Division Commander Antonio indeed owns a 10% stake in it.”

  “Regarding more detailed information about the plot of land, the Bureau of Mines stated they have only recently been established and many materials have not yet been transferred from the Land Bureau. They suggested we inquire with the Land Bureau.”

  “We came to the Land Bureau, but learned of an unexpected incident. Salazar, the Land Bureau clerk responsible for this land, was injured in an unexpected attack last night. According to him, he fled into a church mortuary last night and was saved by a nun, which preserved his life.”

  “Salazar’s current injuries are stable and he has been hospitalized, but he stated that he can only help us check the relevant materials after he is discharged.”

  “We are now connecting live with the injured Clerk Salazar.”

  “Sorry, interviews are not allowed in the hospital ward.” A nurse drove the reporter away, but the reporter still captured the image of Clerk Salazar lying on the hospital bed having his gauze changed.

  “Good!” Bernardo struck his two fists together and immediately called Sebastian again. “That... how did Clerk Salazar get injured?”

  Sebastian paused for two seconds: “Uh... actually, I don't know how he got injured either. I just learned from a Land Bureau informant that he was injured. Since he is in charge of this mine land, it was perfect to make an issue of it and confuse everyone’s sight.”

  “Well done, Sebastian.”

  With the incident of Salazar being injured, Antonio would have to take the blame for murdering a Land Bureau clerk out of concern that the share situation would leak.

  At least, that’s what the public would think!

  Ten minutes later, Antonio was invited to Bernardo’s office. His eyes were bleary with sleep, and the red mark on his forehead was clearly from oversleeping while leaning on his desk in the office.